Monday, October 19, 2009

Possible Go-Devil Trail: Summit to CS II?

Friends of the SALINE VALLEY SALT TRAM

www.SaltTram.blogspot.com SalineValleySaltTram@gmail.comAs the years pass, researching the true story of the Salt Tram is getting more difficult, as the abundant photos and written first hand accounts from that era find their way into landfills (instead of museums). We are striving to rediscover the efforts of those who built and ran the Salt Tram, in order to give proper recognition to their hopes, dreams and abundant sweat from an era that is rapidly fading from our memories. We are actively seeking out information about the mining of Salt in Saline Valley between 1903 and the 1950's, including: documents, photos, articles, stories, artifacts, etc. If you can help us out, please email us at the address above - Thank-you! --Tim and Brian Waag, the Waag brothers (aka E. Clampus Waagus).

Caution (PLEASE READ): Climbing around on the tramway is dangerous because its really old and defnitely unsafe, so don't even think about it. Shoot, just getting to it requires some perilous hiking, and if you don't believe me, just take a look at the Zig Zag Access Trail (or what's left of it). Plus, climbing on it weakens it and endangers your life. Also, the Saline Valley Salt Tram is on the National Register of Historic Places and should be treated with the respect that it deserves. What little remains is of great historic value, and should not be disturbed in any way. Heck, its probably against the law to move parts of the tram around, and certainly a crime to take home some of the few bits of it that remain (though you'd have to ask your friendly local BLM agent for details). So please treat it with the respect it deserves, so that future generations can enjoy whats left, without you messing it up. Really. Please. You can see its listing on the National Register of Historic Places at these web links:National Register of Historic Places 1National Register of Historic Places 2

******************************************************************** QUESTION 1: Find the elusive Go-Devil route to the bottom of Daisy Canyon. DONE MAY 2010! Congrats to Tom and Brian!!!

********************************************************************Continuing to search for Go-Devil Trail from Summit to Temp Tramway: This is our attempt to find the Go-Devil route without leaving our desk! On Google Earth, the purple trail looks like a quick trail down to the bottom of Daisy Canyon. It ends up at the little spring and camp in the bottom of daisy canyon, just above the burro coral in the bottom of Daisy Canyon. Click topo map to enlarge purple route and elevation profile map:

Maybe its nothing - you know Google Earth! Note on the topo map profile that this route creates a very nice downward sloping profile and MIGHT solve the mystery of the final stage of the trail to the bottom of Daisy Canyon. Below is the Google Earth version of the topo map, showing a possible Go-Devil route in red. (Click to enlarge).

Photo below shows Spring and Camp where the possible new trail exits into the bottom of Daisy Canyon proper (click to enlarge):

*****************************************************************************************From New FRIENDS OF SALINE VALLEY SALT TRAM participant Fred D. (March, 2010):
Fred ran into a pile of Salt Tram lumber on the west side of the tram route, when he inadvertently went off trail. He will attempt to relocate the site on our May 2010 trip.

Here's what Fred said: "To locate the 'stack of lumber' you could ask the BLM rep in our group to ask the NPS airplane pilot to take a photo 1mile down 1/4 mile south of the trail where the pile is. These guys talk govt. lingo so they could connect. I have talked to the pilot, some years back , (since retired), around 50 years old. His office # at that time was 760 786-3248. Goggle Earth did not work well , not enough resolution, maybe a bad day/ connection whatever , do you have a lat / lon for the tram, may help me .